Aerial sign



July 29, 1969 H. E. HANDLEY T AL 3,457,554

AERIAL SIGN Filed Sept. 7, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROBERT D. HANDLEY HAROLD E. DLEY FRANK J5 Y BY ATTORNEYS y 1969 H. E. HANDLEY ET AL 3,457,664

AERIAL SIGN Filed Sept. '7, .1966 4 Sheets-She 2 ig 3a 40 @51 9 16.6 AZ iilmafi INVENTORS ROBERT D. HANDLEY HAROLD ANDLEY FRANK ERRY ATTORNEYS 'July 29,1969 H, E HA'NDLEY Em 3,457,664

AERIAL SIGN Filed Sept. 7, 1966 4 Sheets-Shit} FIG. J2. mvsmons ROBERT D. HANDLEY HAROLD E. HANDLEY FRANK :QRRY u ATTORNEYS July 29, 1969 H, HANDLEY ET AL AERIAL SIGN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledSept. 7, i966 INVENTORS Z2 ROBERT D. HANDLEY HAROL D E. HANDLEY Y A W ATTORNEYS RANK J. a

United States Patent 3,457,664 AERIAL SIGN Harold E. Handley and Robert D. Handley, Jackson, and

Frank J. Perry, Vandercook Lake, Mich., assignors to Handley Industries, Inc., Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 577,646 Int. Cl. G09f 7/18 US. Cl. 40145 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to sign structure particularly suitable for aerial observation, such as used to mark the location of pipelines and the like, wherein the sign is of atriangular configuration having two sloping sides upon which indicia are mounted, and the invention discloses improvements over US. Patent 3,204,355. Preferably, the sign is formed of a synthetic plastic material, and the indicia receiving sides are formed of a single sheet of material having embossments defined therein which strengthen the sign, and define recesses for indicia receiving tabs. Bottom structure reinforces the sloping sides, and provides a point of support spaced from the apex of the sloping sides, which also defines a point of support.

Aerial signs of the above said type are exposed to the elements and must be capable of retaining their initial legible appearance without maintenance for long periods of time. Also, they are subjected to many forms of vandalism and must be capable of withstanding, to a high degree, thrown objects, gunshot and the like. To be readily read from the air, aerial signals cannot be sheltered or otherwise protected from the wind. Nor is it feasible to use guy wires or other conventional forms of bracing because of grazing livestock. Also, such forms of bracing encourage the growth of obscuring vines, etc.

According to one form of the present invention, a durable, five-sided, plastic aerial sign is provided with two sloping sides for carrying the desired indicia. The sign is solely supported from an upright which has bracing support with widely spaced interior portions of the box-like structure of the sign. With the sign in position on its upright, the interior of the sign is substantially sealed against the entrance of water, ice, snow, soil or other detrimental accumulations.

Thus, an object of the invention is to provide a plastic, noncorrosive and shatterproof aerial sign of box-like structure having a socket with widely spaced supports for attaching the sign to an upright, as well as functioning as an interior brace.

Another object is to provide an aerial sign that may be readily applied to its supporting structure in the field by unskilled persons.

A further object is to provide a plastic aerial sign having indicia tab-receiving depressions defined by framing ribs which tend to protect the indicia tabs from the wind and reduce accumulation of snow, and the like, on the sloping sides of the sign, to a minimum.

A still further object is to provide an aerial sign comprising three pieces of separately formed plastic which, When assembled, provide a substantially enclosed, fivesided sign with interior socket and bracing structure in which the support structure for the sign is received.

Another object is to provide an aerial sign which may be formed in the flat and then hinged into an integral three-sided configuration.

These and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following specificatiton and the appended claims:

3,457,664 Patented July 29, 1969 ice FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the aerial sign supported from a post in the ground,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom section of the sign before assembly,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sign taken on line VIVI of FIG. 1 with the sign shown removed from the support,

FIG. 7 is a detail, sectional view taken through a numeral tab and the adjacent side depressions along line VIIVII of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the numeral tab removed from the sign,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the tab of FIG. 8 taken on line IX-IX thereof,

FIGS. l0, l1 and 12 are plan, side and elevational views, respectively, of a modification of FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 13 through 17 are plan, end and side elevations of further modifications.

The aerial sign of FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 is shown supported on a post 12 embedded in the ground 14. Sign 10 is a five-sided, box-like structure with sloping sides 16 and 18, ends 20 and 22, and a bottom 24. A tubing, constituting a socket 26, is supported at its upper end at the ridgeway 28 and at its lower end in the collar 30 of the bottom 24. The upper end of the post 12 is received in the socket 26 with the adjustable collar 34 clamping the split end of the socket 26 on to the post 12 to hold the sign 10in position.

The three separately formed parts of the sign 10, namely, the one-piece main body comprising the sides 16 and 18 and ends 20 and 22, the bottom 24 and the socket 26 may be formed from any suitable material. However,

they are preferably formed of plastic material which is lightweight, Weatherproof and noncorrosive, yet capable of being used in economical stock thicknesses of sufiicient strength to withstand the forces of the elements.

In practice, the main body or top section of the sign 10 comprising the sides 16 and 18 and ends 20 and 22 may be vacuum-formed from a sheet of relatively inert, lightweight, strong, synthetic plastic material, such as a resin rubber compound, for example, a blend of copolymers styrene-acrylonitrile resin and butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber such as sold under the trade names Kralastic and Cycolac. Obviously, other methods of plastic fabrication may be used such as blow forming, injection molding rotational casting and the like to fabricate the top section.

To stiffen the sloping sides 16 and 18 and to provide depressions in which the indicia tabs may be disposed and protected from the wind, ribs 36 define and frame the depressions 38 which approximate in shape and dimension the numeral tab 40 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The triangularly shaped ends 20 and 22, integral with the sides 16 and 18, function to reinforce and brace the sloping sides 16 and 18.

At the junction of the sides 16 and 18 and integral therewith is a ridgeway 28 in which is integrally formed an inverted cup 44 into which the upper end of the plastic tubing defining the socket 26 is inserted.

The sides 16 and 18 and ends 20 and 22 have a common base flange 48, preferably, with a turned edge into which the bottom 24 is piloted, the edge 50 overlapping and protecting the joint between the bottom 24 and the flange 48.

Bottom 24 may be vacuum-formed from the same plastic sheet as the main body section. Its function is to seal off and brace the lower portion of the main body of the sign and to provide a point of support for the socket structure 26 substantially spaced from the inverted cup 44. To that end, the bottom 24 has numerous vacuum-formed reinforcing and stiffening ribs 52, most of which are radially disposed relative to the support collar 30. The thickness of the sheet from which the bottom 24 is vacuum-formed may have a starting thickness in the order of .100" when the bottom 24 of the sign 10 is roughly 2 X 3' and the sides 16 and 18 have a 45 slope.

The socket structure 26 may be fabricated from a length of extruded plastic tubing of the same material as the other plastic parts, the lower end of the tubing being axially slotted as indicated at 56 to assist in the clamping action of the adjustable collar 34 on the tubing to grip the inserted end of the post 12. To increase the functional grip of the slotted end of the tubing upon the post 12, the tubing adjacent the slotted end may be lined with a suitable abrasive tape or coating.

To assemble the three plastic components of the sign 10 for shipping and installation in the field, the tubing defining the socket structure 26 is preferably solventwelded in the inverted cup 44 and collar 54 at the points indicated at X in FIG. 6. The flange 58 of the bottom 24 is preferably riveted to the flange 48, although it may be solvent-welded or otherwise bonded.

Prior to applying to the sign, the indicia numeral tabs 40, preferably of plastic sheet, have the indicia silkscreened, or otherwise applied to the exposed face thereof. Tabs 40 may be welded, solvent-welded, or otherwise attached or bonded, in the depressions 38 of the sides 16 and 18. By using plastic stock for the tabs 40 in the order of .125" thickness, when the tabs 40 are located in depressions' in the order of .250" deep, the tabs 40 are protected by the ribs 36 from the wind, yet the depressions 38 offer very little opportunity for the accumulation of soil, ice and snow.

Whereas, in the form of the invention of FIGS. 1 through 9, inclusive, the relative angularity of the slo ing sides 16 and 18 is fixed, the modification of FIGS. 10 through 17 provides for an adjustment of such angularity, if desired. To that end, the sign structure is preferably fabricated in the flat from an integral sheet of plastic material with transverse hinge lines being scored or otherwise provided to enable the sign to be set up in the form to be used in the field.

In the form of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the sign 10 has sloping side panel portions 16' and 18 separated by the hinge line 60. The bottom 24 of the set up sign com prises the panels 62 and 64 having hinge lines 66. The opposite edge portions 68 are shown flanged and are riveted or solvent-welded when the bottom 24' has both panels 62 and 64 in the same plane with the sign set up. Semicircular collar portions are shown at 70 for attaching the panels 62 and 64 to the supporting upright 12' for the sign through the use of a socket 26 and clamp 34 similar to that described above relative to FIG. 6. By disposing the panels 62 and 64 out of the same plane to shift the collar portion 70 up or down on the socket 26' prior to solvent-welding, the angularity of the junction between the sloping side panels is altered to adapt the sign 10' to different conditions of use. The terrain, or type of aircraft used in inspection, may dictate the use, for example, of a 60 slope rather than the 45 slope of the forms of FIGS. 6 and 13.

In the modification of FIGS. 13 through 17, the sloping sides of the aerial sign which carry the indicia tabs are provided with overlapping end panels which function as brace structure to hold the sign in different positions of angular adjustment. As shown in the flat in FIG. 13, the set up sign 10' of FIG. 14 has sloping side panels 16" and 18", end panels 20" and 22" and bottom panels 62' and 64'. It will be noted that the bottom panels 62' and 64 are triangularly shaped in lieu of the rectangular form of the bottom panels 62 and 64 of FIG. 10 and have collar portions 72 for clamping the same to the upright 12". FIGS 14,15 and 16 show the sign 10" set up with the sloping sides 16" and 18" at 45, 60 and 33, respectively. The overlapping end panels 20 and 22" may be riveted or solvent-welded into the position to provide the desired angularity of the sloping sides.

It will be understood that the sheet structure of FIGS. 10 and 13 is preferably a plastic suitably formed to provide hinged lines between the panels, as well as the reinforcing ribs and collar structure, similar to that described with reference to the form of FIGS. 1 through 9, inclusive.

In the event the modification of FIG. 12 requires additional bracing or it is desired to close the ends of the sign 10', the use of separate end panels, riveted or otherwise attached at opposite ends of the sign, is anticipated. Such end panels would be especially desirable in the event the tubing defining the socket 26' is eliminated and the parts 62 and 64 are attached directly to the upright 12'. Obviously, the separate end panels will conform to the selected angularity of the sloping sides 16 and 18.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An aerial sign comprising a top section formed of a single sheet of sheet material having triangular end portions and indicia-carrying, sloping side portions, a bottom section of sheet material for said top section and a vertically disposed socket tube extending between said top and bottom sections to receive an upright to support the sign, said socket tube having substantially spaced upper and lower points of support in said sections and affixed to said sections at said points of support.

2. An aerial sign as defined in claim 1 wherein said side and end portions having a common integrally flanged lower edge, and means attaching said bottom section to said flange.

3. An aerial sign as defined in claim 1 wherein said side portions have integral rib portions defining and framing individual depressions, and separately formed indicia tabs closely conforming to the framing of said depressions, located in said depressions and protected by said rib portions.

4. An aerial sign comprising three main surface portions angularly disposed to each other with the sign supported on an upright, said portions being of plastic sheet material having embossments in the form of ribs to improve the rigidity of the sheet material, two of said surface portions sloping toward each other and forming a ridgeway, the other surface portion being disposed below said sloping portions and being connected with the lower portion thereof to brace the same and form the bottom of the sign, said sloping portions carrying indicia readable from aircraft, said bottom having means for receiving a supporting upright for the sign.

5. An aerial sign defined in claim 4 wherein said bottom comprises two parts, each part being hingcdly connected to the said lower portion of one of said sloping portions, said parts having integral portions constituting at least a part of said means.

6. An aerial sign as defined in claim 4 wherein said angularly disposed main surface portions are all formed from a single sheet with integral hinge structure at each of their junctions of angularity.

7. An aerial sign as defined in claim 5 wherein the relative angularity of said two parts of said bottom controls the relative angularity of said sloping portions.

8. An aerial sign as defined in claim 7 wherein said sloping portions have end panels at opposite ends which overlap each other to provide angularly disposed braces for said sloping portions, the amount of overlap being controlled by the relative angularity of said sloping portions, and means for connecting said overlapping panels to each other.

9. An aerial sign comprising a plastic top section formed of a single sheet of sheet material and having sloping sides and triangular ends, said sides and ends having a common flange, bottom structure attached to said flange,

socket structure defined in said top section and in said bottom structure for the attachment of an upright for the mounting of the sign, integral rib portions defined in said sides framing and defining depressions in said sides, and separate iudicia tabs located in said depressions and afiixed therein.

10. An aerial sign as defined in claim 9 wherein said bottom structure is formed of plastic sheet material and has a centrally located collar portion with rib portions radially extending therefrom constituting a portion of said socket structure.

11. An aerial sign as defined in claim 10, wherein said top section has a centrally located, inverted cup portion at the ridgeway of said sides, said cup portion having a closed upper wall and opening toward said bottom structure, said cup portion constituting a portion of said sBcket structure.

12. An aerial sign as defined in claim 11 wherein a tubing has an upper part disposed in said cup portion and a. lower part disposed in said collar portion, said tubing constituting a portion of said socket structure as well as an interior brace between spaced portions of said top section and said bottom structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,186 7/1930 Venernan 40--10 X 2,699,618 1/1955 Stuppell 40 2 3,204,355 9/1965 Whitman 40145 X 1,650,471 11/1927 Servais 40132 1,668,799 5/1928 Bergan 40132 2,330,096 9/1943 Waters 40217 X 2,667,000 1/1954 OConnor 40217 3,078,452 2/1963 Olson 40-145 X 3,102,365 9/1963 Whitesell 40 217 X 3,233,352 2/1966 Projector et a1 40-217 X FOREIGN PATENTS 347,146 1/1'922 Germany.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WENCESLAO J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner 

